Fred Couples' Masters Round Derailed by Quadruple Bogey at Augusta's 15th
Fred Couples' 41st Masters appearance took a devastating turn when the 66-year-old legend posted a quadruple bogey on Augusta National's traditionally scoreable 15th hole, derailing what had been a surprisingly competitive opening round.
From Contention to Collapse
The 1992 Masters champion was sitting pretty at 2-under par, keeping pace with players less than half his age, when disaster struck on the par-5 15th. From a perfect layup position just 90 yards from the pin, Couples inexplicably hit two consecutive wedge shots into the water.
"I laid up perfect," Couples explained. "I had 90 yards, so I had to carry it 85 and 5. Sometimes when you don't try and hit a good shot, you forget what the hell you're doing."
Domino Effect Leads to 78
The damage didn't end there. His tee shot on the 16th also found water, leading to double bogeys on both 16 and 17. What started as a promising round ended with a 78, effectively ending his chances for the week.
Historic Struggles on 15
Couples wasn't alone in his misery. Robert MacIntyre and former Masters champion Danny Willett also posted 9s on the same hole, marking the first time since 1998 that three players recorded a 9 on a single hole during a Masters round. The hole played to an average of over 5.121, making it the only par-5 to play over par on Thursday.
A perfect example of how short game precision can make or break a round. Two consecutive water balls from 90 yards highlights the mental challenges and strategic demands of Augusta National.